By Progress Godfrey

Abuja — A coalition of civil society and regional development organisations has cautioned against attempts to use civil society platforms to undermine Nigeria’s ongoing public procurement reforms.

The warning was issued on Monday at a press briefing addressed by the National Coordinator of the Northern Youth Integrity Group, Mr. Malcolm Adakole, on behalf of the coalition, which also includes the Oduduwa Development Initiative led by its National President, Ambassador Akinyele Olasumbo.

The groups said public procurement reform is essential for transparency, fiscal discipline, and value for money in government spending, and warned that the process should not be weakened through misinformation or the influence of vested interests.

According to the coalition, the reforms form a key component of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at addressing long-standing inefficiencies, cost inflation, and abuse within the procurement system.

They noted that measures such as stricter approval thresholds, enhanced compliance checks, standardised bidding documents, and the transition to electronic procurement are critical to improving accountability and governance.

“Public procurement reform is a central element of the Renewed Hope Agenda. It seeks to correct structural weaknesses that have enabled inefficiency, cost inflation, procedural abuse, and poor value-for-money outcomes in public spending,” the coalition said.

It added that Nigeria’s economic growth, infrastructure development, and service delivery would remain constrained if procurement processes continue to lack transparency and effective oversight.

The coalition acknowledged that resistance to reform is expected, particularly from individuals and groups that previously benefited from weak controls and informal influence.

However, it stressed that civil society advocacy must remain evidence-based and responsible.

“We reject sponsored narratives, anonymous allegations, and coordinated misinformation campaigns designed to undermine reform under the guise of accountability,” the statement said.

The coalition concluded that public procurement reform is a governance necessity that must be protected from politicisation or reversal in the national interest.